EU funding for media and digital literacy project

Researchers will work with teachers to create a new course which will address digital skills gaps as part of a new €329,975 project led by the University of Wolverhampton.

Over three years, MeLDE  (Media Literacy in a Digitalised Era: supporting teachers through a whole-school approach) will develop an online platform to help students and teachers develop media literacy and gain recognised qualifications through Mozilla's Open badge scheme.

There will also be a new toolkit which teachers can use to roll out media literacy training in their schools, either as part of existing classes or an extra-curricular activity.

The project has been granted European funding, after a successful Erasmus+ Key Action 2 strategic partnership bid from the University's Faculty of Arts.

Alison Carminke, Academic Enterprise Manager for the University of Wolverhampton's Faculty of Arts, said: "EU citizens (above all, young students) are vulnerable to cyberbullying and cyber harassment, predatory behaviour and disturbing online content. Meanwhile, 44% of Europeans lack basic digital skills.

"Our project will identify current gaps in media literacy teaching, develop teachers’ skills and give them the tools to spread this new knowledge throughout their schools."

MeLDE was been officially launched in Wolverhampton earlier this month by partners from Cyprus, Germany, Greece and the UK.

Picture caption: MeLDE project team.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The partners involved in this project are:

University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom – Faculty of Arts

Private Institute Emphasys Centre (Cyprus) (www.emphasyscentre.com)

National Center For Scientific Research "Demokritos" (Greece) (www.demokritos.gr)

Antenna (Cyprus) (www.ant1iwo.com)

Arbeitskreis Ostviertel e.V. (Germany) (www.bennohaus.de

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsi­ble for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.